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Too quick and too cool.

“And that answers why I brought you here. Because your rules may be solid now, but give it a few days, and I think you’ll be willing to let one measly employee go.”

She stands up and saunters toward me. Being locked up might not do it, but the curve of her ass might.

She leans down, close enough for me to touch her. Close enough for me to smell her. Salt and a hint of perfume that invades my senses. That’s her first mistake, aside from getting knocked out.

“And you’ve played your hand, Austin.”

The way she murmurs my name sounds so familiar and warm. No one speaks to me so softly anymore.

I want to smile. God, I never thought I’d be close enough to see the freckles across her nose, like constellations I want to map out. Today, it’s been three times. I’m practically giddy.

“And what’s that, Olivia Daniels?” I tilt up my chin, my eyes drawn down to her lips.

She grins widely. “You like me.”

My eyes snap back to hers. She pauses for the perfect amount of time, and then, just as I open my mouth to retort, she retreats. She bestows a final smirk on me and saunters toward the stairs. Her hips sway, causing her ass to swing left to right like a pendulum I can’t keep my eyes off. Oh, she’s good.

“Goodnight, Austin,” she calls out.

“Goodnight, Killer.”

She pauses, turning to eye me up and down, considering the nickname I’ve christened her with. “Not yet.”

And then she’s up the stairs, the light is out, and I hear the click and slide of a dead bolt.

Chapter Four

Olivia

Iroll into the middle of my queen-sized bed, stretching my arms high above my head and releasing a big yawn. The homemade blanket my mom made is bunched up; I must have kicked it off in the night.

One of my favorite parts of the day is waking up early before anyone else. Ticking off my to-do list before some people had even gotten out of bed gives me the feeling of accomplishment that no degree or corporate job ever could.

As my feet hit the floor, I lift my hands up as high as I can before bending down to touch my toes, stretching the sleepiness from my muscles.

First off is a to-do list for the day, ensuring I cover as much as possible now that I’ve got a houseguest to attend to.

-Breakfast for myself and houseguest

-Workout—using new equipment sent to me by Zen Yoga

-Plan out upcoming posts

-Lunch for myself and houseguest

-Check social stats and reply to comments

-Long-term planning

-Call with accountant at four

-Dinner and social time with houseguest

-Bed(alone)

Alone seems an unnecessary addition to “bed.” And yes,I write “bed” on my to-do list. Those who don’t understand the utterly gratifying feeling of ticking something off their list wouldn’t get it. But those who are relentless list-makers like myself wouldn’t bat an eye.